THE SNP will launch their independence referendum campaign on Friday – in a cinema a stone’s throw from celebrity supporter Sean Connery’s first home.

The 81-year-old James Bond legend is among the stars and politicians invited to attend the formal unveiling of Yes Scotland – the Nationalist’s campaign for Scots to vote for independence in the poll expected in 2014.

First Minister Alex Salmond and other public figures will sign a “Yes Declaration”, echoing the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath.

The SNP last night refused to say if they were expecting Sir Sean to attend the event.

A campaign spokesman said: “The launch will see the start of the biggest community-based campaign in Scotland’s history, designed to build a groundswell of support for an independent Scotland ahead of the 2014referendum.

“Scots from all walks of life will join some of our leading stars and community and political figures to sign a Yes Declaration, setting out why being independent offers the best future for people across Scotland.

“The event will see the launch of the Yes Scotland website and campaign anthem and willfeature contributions from some of Scotland’s leading culturalfigures.”

The launch will take place at the Cineworld multiplex at Edinburgh’s Fountain Park – just a three-minute walk from Sir Sean’s childhood home at 176 Fountainbridge.

The tenement he was raised in has since been demolished but two years ago, Sir Sean unveiled a plaque on the site bearing his name and birthplace.

It was his last public appearance before he rang the bell to start trading on the New York stock exchange on Thursday. He was then snapped out and about in New York on Friday.

The low profile of Sir Sean, based in the Bahamas, had sparkedworries about his health.

The SNP’s opponents yesterday said the launch of their campaign should be the start of them answering the big questions on independence.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “As Alex Salmond gets set to launch his campaign for a separate Scotland, he is desperate to pretend little will change.

“But the reality is a huge number of unanswered questions remain over what separation actually means for Scotland. It is time he started providing some answers.”

Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “AlexSalmond can try to conjure up all the razzmatazz he likes to give the impression there is a groundswell of support for separation.

“But the facts are that the SNP have lost a quarter of their support in a year and got barely a third of the vote in the council elections.

“It is not enough for Salmond to simply make a Braveheart cry for ‘Yes’ to separation when the SNP have repeatedly answered ‘No’ when asked fundamental questions as to what a separate Scotland would look like.”